The Pay Off

Ok, it has been long enough. I really doubted my testimony of blogging, but my wife has helped me see that I should continue. Lets see if I can keep it up again.

Last night, my sports obsession paid off, literally. I am on a site called Wazzel where you pick the winners of games based on the betting lines. Instead of risking cash, you win and lose points with each pick. They say that in the future you will be able to cash in the points for prizes, like at an arcade. Over the past three weeks, I participated in a contest called Wazzel Madness. While most march madness contests consist of picking all the winners before the tournament starts, this one allows you to pick game by game, again based on the betting line. The amount of points possible to win increased by round, with the first round games worth 2000 points and the championship game worth 10000. Going into yesterdays game, I was winning by 6000 points, with only one other person in the running for a win, who was down by 18000. Since I was in first, I waited until late to make the pick, so no one could make their pick based on mine. Picking UNC at -7.5 wasnt very difficult, it was just hard picking period, knowing what was on the line. I didnt want to be like Tyler and screw up when the pressure was on!

Finally it was game time. After Carolina scored the first basket, the CBS feed went out. It was out on both cable and satellite, I dont know if it was just us or if it was the SLC affiliate, but I wasnt very happy. I was able to get the game online, so that saved a very stressful night. Honestly, the outcome was never really in doubt, but I pushed those thoughts out of my head throughout the game so there would be no jinx. Finally, with about 2 minutes left, I declared myself the winner and broke out the champagne. Actually, there was no champagne, but that would have been fun to spray all over the house. In the end, I won a $750 voucher for the ticket website RazorGator. I thought picking with the lead was tough, but deciding what sporting event I want to go to will be a huge challenge!

It is about time all the hours I have spent in front of the TV pays off. Let this be a lesson to you kids, hard work pays off.

Jimmy V Week

At the beginning of December, ESPN does "Jimmy V Week" to solicit donations to the Jimmy Fund to fight cancer. Jim Valvano was a college basketball coach who won the 1983 NCAA title with NC State. The video of him running around the court looking for someone to hug is ageless. In 1992 he was diagnosed with bone cancer which advanced very quickly. In March of 1993, he accepted the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian award at the ESPN awards show, the ESPYs. His acceptance speech is one that I watch every year at this time. It is very moving and heartfelt, with the love that he had of helping others plainly evident. I have embedded the video below and encourage everyone to take the 10 minutes and watch it. Less than two months after the speech, he passed away. The foundation is set up with ESPN, which pays all administrators and employees to control the fund, so every penny donated is used for cancer research. I hope it moves you as much as it does me.

Another New Beginning

A few weeks ago I expressed my excitement for the opening of the NBA season...that does not even compare with how excited I am for College Basketball. Today marks the day that teams can start playing real games, although many will play an exhibition game early in the week then start the regular season this weekend. If I had to choose one sport to watch and that was it, NCAA basketball would be my choice. The middle of November each year is when I really appreciate satellite TV, since there is usually a game every night and that only increases once football ends. In the next day or two, I am going to do a UNLV and NCAA season preview. In the mean time, USA Today said this Saturday's UNLV-USD game is the best game of opening week. Hopefully that means that after the Rebs win, they will jump into the top 25!


This pic is not a dig at Mike, but when I googled Wink Adams, it came up 3 times on the first page so I had to put it on here!

A Full Mind

Just a few things that are on my mind right now.

-Baseball "highlights" are the worst part of Sportscenter.

-I finished season 3 of 24 tonight. Way better than season 2.

-I need to find season 4...

-Can Eric Gagne possibly be any worse? Does anyone doubt that he was on steroids those two seasons when he was unhittable?

-Tiger Woods will win the Masters by 4 strokes. An amateur will finish in the top 15.

-Im excited to watch the Par 3 tournament while I work tomorrow afternoon.

-If I were Bill Self and my alma mater was offering a $6 million signing bonus and $3.5 million per year, I would go.

-If I were Kansas, I would not offer more than $2.5 million per year to keep him.

-Psycho T needs to return to UNC, so does Ty Lawson.

-The UCLA style of play will never win them a national championship.

-I already miss UNLV basketball. Its gonna be a long 7 months...

-My earliest memory is from a packed Thomas and Mack. I remember Tark being introduced and the shark would go around the top of the arena. Visiting teams would leave the floor instead of watch the fireworks and introductions. The only players I remember are Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon and Greg Anthony.

-Why dont the fireworks intimidate anymore?

-Only 7 weeks until my wedding day.

-My parents are so supportive. I am glad they have let me make decisions and mistakes. It has taught me so much about life.

-There are new episodes of Scrubs, The Office and 30 Rock this week!

-Today is one of the days that I absolutely hate the game of golf. I went to the range and could not hit the dang ball. I have never been so frustrated while practicing, but I stuck around and tried to push through it to no avail...I will be back out there tomorrow.

-Lately I have been in a music funk. Im not really in the mood to listen to anything I have, and nothing new sounds good. This really frustrates me, I never listen just to listen, but that is how I have felt the last few days.

-I like blogging. It allows me to express myself and let others know what is going on in life. I dont care if no one else reads, I will still write. I write for me, not anyone else.

-I saw a flyer for a physics club meeting and thought of Alec.

-Tiffany has helped us so much with our announcements.

-I hope I have more energy tomorrow than today.

I think that is about it. I have more in my head, but nothing is forming into anything complete. Now that college basketball is over, I dont know what I will watch each night, but I am happy I wont have to hear Jay Bilas force his opinions on me.

A smattering of thoughts

Just a few things that have been on my mind...

-Why do people make movies that are rated R just for violence? Shaylee and I just finished Michael Clayton (conveniently edited by clearplay) and there was literally nothing else cut out other than swearing. Just cut those 20 words out and you will make at least $20 million more!

-Stephen Colbert is the best satirest of our time.

-3 months is such a long/short time!

-Yankee Stadium is looming in my near future.

-By the way, Michael Clayton was the best George Clooney movie I have ever seen. I know that isnt saying much (he has taken over hollywood despite having just one movie in the top 100 grossing movies of all time), but I would recommend it to just about anyone.

-Why are some people so flakey?

-Females do not belong in the broadcast booth for a mens college basketball game, keep them as sideline reporters!

-Many people gave me a hard time about my body pillow that was mentioned in a recent post. Shaylee was the one who told me to include it...she finds it very amusing.

-Friday Night Lights CANNOT end like it did. If it doesnt get renewed, I am going on a killing rampage of NBC executives.

-I need a tan.

-This has been an excellent College Basketball season...and will only get better once the rebs are dancing!

-KFC hot wings bring me so much joy and happiness.

-The name Alec basically means Superman...(to quote keith)look it up.

-I wish I had been better at writing in my journal as a child.

-Texting is ruining the way people develop relationships, I think I will devote a whole post to this one day.